Foreign Office Minister welcomes Connecticut's abolition of the death penalty

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has welcomed the decision, making Connecticut the 17th US state to abolish the death penalty.

Speaking today he said:

“I warmly welcome the decision taken by the Governor of Connecticut Dannel Malloy to sign legislation abolishing the death penalty in Connecticut. Connecticut has become the 17th US state to abolish the death penalty, which reinforces the trend towards abolition. I hope that this decision will inspire other US states which still retain the death penalty to follow Connecticut’s positive example of abolition.

It is the longstanding policy of the UK to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We consider that its use undermines human dignity, that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.”